Wichita eagle., 1887-05-27

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.Sel1gent inen, fun of eoufge, and gay pm1e
"a. They said that they desired to be al
peace with the Blacklist, whom they de-
bounced a. utterly viIlainous and Preacher
/ GUS They said that they were going to have
the privilege of hunting buffalo on the
Saskatchewan plains or they were going to
hill every Blackfoot they met. They held the
courage and warlike skin of the Blackfeet
| in the utmost contempt.
That night the Pend Oreille camp re-
sounded with merriment Early the next
morning, which fortunately was cool and
pleasant, they put on gay colored calico shirts
and gaudy leggins made Of blankets, and
painted their faces with vermilion. They
gathered on the point and waited, their SEN
tinels still posted on the bluffs. Down the
river the faint barbaric music made by beat
ing Indian drums arose. Presently the head
OF column OF mounted troops came into
sight on the crest Of the northern bluff Of the
river. Banners were flying, drums were
sounding and the Blackfeet warriors were
chanting their marching song as they slowly
advanced. They came to the Belly river,
forded it and marched past the fort to q level
meadow, and there the head Of the column
halted. Long before the tail Of tire column
had crossed the river their Comp had been
pitched. Conical hodges 81 ood in regular
rows, with wide sereeH, between them. The
squaws ''orRed VIII ardor. Sentinels wero
r-ssed on bills, from which they could over
look the plains which stretched toward the
sweet grass hills The camp pitched, the
Rgackfeet braves gathered at the river bank.
They were a magnificent body Of warriors.
They were perfectly armed with breech load
ing rifles and Colts revolvers They were
splendidly mounted on war horses. Their
buckskin shirts were ornamented with many
colored quilts Of porcupines. Red and blue
blankets, procured at the Hudson Bay COM
pany's trading posts, were wrapped carelessly
around them. On their broad breasts hung
ornaments and around their necks were neck
laces Of beads and of bear claws. Eagle
feathers streamed futtering from the coup
sticks. Their faces were painted hideously
A Pend Oreille chief advanced to the river
bank, and, using the sign language, told how
many Blackfeet would be allowed to cross.
About 200 warriors rode into the stream,
forded it, dismounted on the other side, and
strobe in imposing array to where the council
was to be held. There they sat on the ground.
The Indian camp was silent. The children
and squaws lined the river bank. Eight hun.
dred warriors sat motionless On their kor1s
All looked at and stroYe to hear the wo>ds Of
the gssticulatinE figures standing on the coun-
Oh or treaty ground. For an hou the talk
continued. A great pipe was brought to the
treating braves, 1t was filled with tobacco.
lighted, and passed from hznd to hand. each
warrior smoking it FOG an instant A shout
arose on the council ground. Quickly it was
answered Women and children began To
talk and laugh. The treating Blackfeet
sprang into their Saddles, reforded the river,
and rode with Joyful shouts into the ranks of
their comrades. A war that had lasted for
sixty years was ended. Presently the Pend
Oreille braves mounted Their sentinels left
their posts They formed into line Then,
singing their marching song, they rode into
the river and crossed it, The ranks of the
Blackfeet opened, and the two tribes assimi-
lated. Together they rode into the Blackfoot
camp, There the juicy humps Of buffalo
roasted before fires. Dogs were killed, cut up
and puS, into pots to BOIL. The Indian art of
cookery was exhausted to do honor to the
fend GRIZZLIES That night the camp was a
blaze Of light, and carnival of song and
laughter and merry with feasting.
Early the next morning Haley sent one of
his men into the camp with a message to the
Pend Oreille chief, asking him to call at the
fort. Soon the chief appeared. Haley ex-
planned to him that the summer trade with
tine 7iegan::clan of the Blackfeet would begin
the next day, that all the Indians would get
drunk, that they would surely attack the
Pend Oreilles if they were near by when they
were drunk, and he urged the Pend Oreille
chief to gather his men and return to his
main camp and to keep away from the trad
ing post until after the summer trade was
over. The advice was good and the Indian
He rode his horse through the
village, calling to his warriors. He thanked
the Blackfeet for their hospitality. His
braves appeared. Indian maidens led their
saddle horses to them and babe them farewell
as they mounted. Lines Of Blaclfeet war
riors stood by the lodges and shook hands
with the departing Pend Oreilles, and ex-
claimed: "How! howl howl" as they rode
off, laden down with gifts of blankets, painted
buffolo robes, rifles and presents Of food. A
group of Blackfest warriors accompanied
them. riding around and around them to dis
play their admirable Craftsmanship. In a
couple of hours the Pend Oreilles had disap-
peared beneath the gray horizon, the escort
had returned, and the summer trade and
semi annual drunk had hegun.
That treaty made on the Belly river stood
as long as buffalo grazed on the northern
plains. Frank Wilkeson in New York Times.